Headteacher Banned After Creating Culture Of 'Fear' In Her School

A headteacher has been banned for life from holding a headship after a hearing was told she intimidated and swore at staff, and gave students 'coke and doughnuts' in exchange for spilling the beans about other staff members.

Debbie Collinson is said to have created a culture of 'fear and intimidation' at her school, telling one 31-year-old female teacher: "Have I made a mistake in employing you? I hope you're not one of those mothers who take time off to be with their children."

She also stood accused of swearing at staff members regarding a school performance, and verbally abusing a teacher who requested time off.

Collinson was also found to have told other members of staff to change attendance records and test scores to improve the figures.

She was found guilty of professional misconduct at a hearing in Birmingham. She is no longer working at the 430-pupil Harrow Gate Primary School, in Stockton-on-Tees, Co Durham, where she was head, and it is not known if she is now teaching in another school.

Tribunal chairwoman, Dr Barbara Hibbert, told the hearing: "It is simply unacceptable to manage a school in the manner in which she did, whatever the motivation."